Sin,—In an article in your issue of December 31st, 1904,
you discuss a paper by a writer in the United Service Magazine on the Indian Army. In it there are many misleading statements made by him. Mixed regiments were not a result of the Mutiny, for the native regiments which aided so much in the assault of Delhi and relief and capture of Lucknow were mostly, if not all, mixed regiments. The fighting qualities of the old Punjab infantry regiments and the Frontier Force (including the Guides) are not an unknown quantity. Ghoorkas do not refuse to enlist in other regiments, as he states. Those in the Guides are as good as any, and they are in the Kashmir Army. They were tried in regiments, but owing to their having their families with them, which makes the movement in relief difficult, and also to their not liking the heat, regiments were formed in fixed cool hill-stations. In fact, the great majority of regi- mental officers prefer mixed regiments, as we consider the race rivalry has a good effect and each race has its own special points which react on the others. Every officer has his favourite, but it would be incorrect to classify as superior one of the fighting races. Sikhs, Dogras, Ghoorkas, Pathans, Punjabi Mabommedans, and some others have proved them- selves first-class fighting material, and none the worse for fighting and living shoulder to shoulder.—I am, Sir, &c., INDIAN OFFICER.
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